Some 2.21 million will be given special pardon on Independence Day

Marking the nation’s 70th independence, the government announced on Thursday that it would grant special pardons to 2,206,924 people including Chairman Chey Tae-won of SK Group as of August 14. Some 14 businessmen will be pardoned including Chey but Chairman Kim Seung-yeon of Hanwha Group and Chairman Gu Ja-won of LIG Group were not on the list. There was no politician to be pardoned, either.

After a Cabinet meeting presided by President Park Geun-hye on Thursday where the amnesty plan was resolved, Justice Minister Kim Hyun-woong announced the plan at the Central Government Complex. The plan will set free some 6,422 criminals including 14 business tycoons and 1,158 small business owners. “The focus was to revive the sagging economy and boost declining morale,” said the government. Some 2,200 construction companies who were imposed with penalties due to bid rigging or have been banned from taking part in construction bid for state-owned firms, and 100 software companies were granted amnesty for administrative restrictions. Politicians and public officials who have been jailed due to corruption and election irregularities were out of the consideration for special pardon in the first place, and criminals of violent offence, drug, labor and political prisoners were not included, either.

The penalty points that have been imposed on some 2,049,469 people who violated the Road Traffic Act will be erased and 67,006 drivers whose license have been suspended or canceled will be returned with their licenses or given opportunities to obtain again. This is the second amnesty plan after President Park granted it at Lunar New Year’s day in 2014.

becom@donga.com